Clarify that a receiving hospital or physician must cause a blood specimen to be collected if one was not collected before the infant’s transfer, or if the specimen was collected before the infant was 24 hours of age, and;

Establish conditions for the use of residual dried blood spots for public health research, patient diagnostic testing, and other public health purposes, including quality assurance.

Public Hearing at 1:30 p.m. CT

The DHHS Division of Public Health is holding this hearing to accept comments on proposed changes to regulations on Reporting and Control of Communicable Diseases and Poisonings. The proposed changes will:

Anyone may attend and comment at the hearings or submit comments in writing. Written comments must be postmarked or received by 5:00 p.m. CT, January 10, 2010. They should be sent to DHHS Regulatory Analysis and Integration, 301 Centennial Mall South, P.O. Box 95026, Lincoln, NE 68509; faxed to 402-742-2382; or e-mailed to Rules.Regs@dhhs.ne.gov.

If auxiliary aids or reasonable accommodations are needed to participate in a hearing, please call 402-471-9022. Persons with hearing impairments may call the DHHS at 402-471-9570 (voice and TDD) or the Nebraska Relay System at 711 or 800-833-7352 TDD.